What Does This Image Invoke in You?

One night I found myself working very late (until 5am) on images in my photography library. I was a photographer for 40+ years and these Images are photographs I have taken over that span but did not keep them in an easy to find file system. I wanted to fix that

I ran across one photograph I took back in 2004 in San Diego at the military cemetery at Point Loma. Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery is on a bluff overlooking the harbor. Every time Monica and I visit San Diego we go there. For some reason the place draws me like nothing else. I was never in the military, but this place spoke volumes about the men and women that have served in our armed forces.

I have always wanted to take a photograph that would do justice to the peacefulness and beauty of its location but more importantly what it represents. I had forgotten about my images of that place until now. After studying this photograph, I decided to use a photographic technique called High Dynamic Range (HDR).

When I applied it to this image the result was totally unexpected. All I could do was stare at it. As I began to adjust the controls to tweak the image further I found myself being drawn into it like no other photograph I have ever done before. I found myself going back to it over and over as I worked on other images throughout the night.

This photograph was taken at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Lomas in San Diego. Its is a Photoshop technique called a high dynamic range. It combines three identical images with one over exposed, one under exposed and one exposed just right.

Memorial Day Photo Story

I found myself crying and a number of occasions. Why I asked myself? What is it about this image?

When you go to the location itself you are immediately over whelmed by the size and scope of the place and sheer numbers of grave markers. On more than one occasion I have found myself walking among the markers and reading the small short story of that person’s life.

I try to imagine what their life was all about and who they were. Not all that are buried there died in combat, but a great many did. What does that say to me? So very many!

Many more cemeteries like this one dot our country and different locations in the world. What price did they pay?

As I think about that, I think about the condition of our country today and what they would think? Would they say it was worth it? I am sad today because of the scope of the question and their ultimate sacrifice.

This is a B&W infrared image that I took with a DSLR camera that was converted to shoot only infrared photographs.

It does not matter if you are Republican or Democrat. Liberal or conservative or any shade in between. The real question is what we have become as a nation at this moment in time. Who are we and where are we going. What does the future bring as I look out over the past of this photograph?

Only God knows. This all is not a surprise to him. That, I take much comfort in.